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Researchers at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School have conducted a study on whooping cough, focusing on the use of pertussis toxin as an adjuvant in an intranasal sensitization model of alopecia areata. The study found that intranasal administration of pertussis toxin and myelin oligodendrocyte peptide induced experimental autoimmune alopecia in mice, rather than the expected autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The research suggests a potential link between nasopharyngeal subclinical Bordetella pertussis colonization and alopecia areata. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses a phase II clinical trial comparing the effects of folate receptor alpha dendritic cells (FRaDCs) to a placebo in treating patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer. FRaDCs are a type of dendritic cell vaccine made from a person's white blood cells and target a protein found in high levels on ovarian tumor cells. The trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of FRaDCs in preventing or delaying recurrence in patients with stage III or IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. The study is set to be completed by December 31, 2027, and focuses on outcomes such as recurrence-free survival and overall survival in patients receiving FRaDCs compared to a placebo. [Extracted from the article]

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland explores the co-dynamics of smallpox, measles, and pertussis (whooping cough) in pre-healthcare Finland. The researchers developed a Bayesian spatio-temporal model to analyze historical data from Finnish parish registers dating from 1820-1850. The study found that measles, pertussis, and smallpox exhibited positively correlated dynamics, which could be attributed to factors such as immunosuppressive effects or the general weakening of the population due to recurring infections or poor nutritional conditions. The research highlights the importance of considering rural populations and historical data sources in epidemiological studies. [Extracted from the article]

According to a preprint abstract, researchers have identified two genes in the bacteria Bordetella pertussis that are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of whooping cough. These genes, bp1251 and bp1252, encode orphan toxin B subunits that have homology to AB toxin B subunits. Mutations in these genes reduced the adherence of B. pertussis to respiratory epithelial cells in vitro and resulted in lower levels of infection in a mouse model. The findings suggest that these genes may function as novel adhesins and play a significant role in Bordetella infection. However, it is important to note that this research has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

New research from the University of Waterloo in Canada explores the impact of oxidative stress on the growth and productivity of pertactin antigen, a component of the acellular vaccine for whooping cough. The study suggests that variability in initial glutamate concentration, a nutrient in the media, may be a major cause of process variability in the manufacturing of the vaccine. The researchers used cytometry and chromatography-based separation techniques to observe surface expression and quantify extracellular concentration of pertactin. The findings have industrial relevance for improving productivity and reducing process variability. [Extracted from the article]

A report from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee discusses research findings on whooping cough. The report corrects an erroneous statement made in a recent paper about a newly developed vaccine called BVN008. The statement claimed that BVN008 is identical to the current Tdap vaccines Boostrix and Adacel, but the research clarifies that the acellular pertussis portion of BVN008 was provided by BIKEN in Japan and differs from the compositions of Boostrix and Adacel. The research suggests that a more appropriate statement would be that BVN008 is a booster vaccine similar in concept to Boostrix and Adacel. [Extracted from the article]

A recent preprint abstract discusses the structural basis for antibody neutralization of pertussis toxin (PT), a key protective antigen in vaccine- and natural immunity-mediated protection from Bordetella pertussis infection. The study used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of genetically detoxified PT bound to two potently neutralizing anti-PT antibodies. The results provide insights into the neutralizing epitopes on PT and improve our understanding of immune protection from B. pertussis, which could inform the future development of PT immunogens. It is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

A new report from researchers at the University of British Columbia discusses the findings on Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. The report highlights the differences between acellular and whole-cell pertussis vaccines, with the latter being more effective at preventing colonization and transmission but also more reactogenic. The researchers focused on modifying the lipid A moiety of B. pertussis lipooligosaccharide (LOS) to create an adjuvant strain that could potentially improve the effectiveness of current vaccines and reduce reactogenicity. The study's findings pave the way for the development of less reactogenic whole-cell vaccines and more effective immunization strategies against pertussis. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study that aimed to compare computational models of immunity in predicting the outcomes of B. pertussis vaccination. The study found that the most successful models were those that effectively handled nonlinearities, reduced large feature sets, and utilized advanced data preprocessing techniques. In contrast, models adapted from literature that were developed for predicting vaccine antibody responses in other contexts performed poorly. The study highlights the importance of purpose-built models and purpose-generated datasets for improving the reliability and applicability of computational models in vaccine response prediction. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study on whooping cough, conducted by the Pediatric Unit in Milan, Italy, highlights the global increase in pertussis cases, particularly among infants under three months of age. The study emphasizes the importance of maternal immunization with the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy to protect newborns. Despite the proven benefits of maternal vaccination, coverage rates remain low in many countries due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy, safety concerns, and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research concludes that increasing vaccine uptake is crucial to reduce the incidence of whooping cough in infants and improve the health outcomes of vulnerable populations. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at the University libre of Bruxelles in Belgium explored the impact of HIV infection on the immune response to Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. The researchers found that pregnant women living with HIV had lower frequencies of memory B cells and attenuated pertussis-specific IgG levels and effector functions compared to HIV-uninfected pregnant women. Additionally, the study revealed that maternal HIV infection was associated with decreased levels of pertussis-specific IgG in cord blood, potentially increasing the risk of severe pertussis infection in HIV-exposed uninfected infants. The research was supported by various funding sources and published in the journal EBioMedicine. [Extracted from the article]

The Massachusetts Horticultural Society formed a Garden and Cemetery Committee to oversee the project, along with a sub-committee of three men responsible for the design-Dearborn, Bigelow, and Brimmer. The genius of Dearborn's initial design is what makes Mount Auburn so beautiful today. Many people assume that Mount Auburn Cemetery, a beautiful green space in the Boston area, is part of the Emerald Necklace and that it was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903). [Extracted from the article]

A recent report from researchers at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University discusses the severity of whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease that remains endemic in both developing and developed countries despite ongoing vaccination efforts. The study focuses on a clinical observation of a patient with a malignant form of whooping cough, characterized by severe symptoms such as large leukocytosis, refractory hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiopulmonary impairment. The research highlights the importance of factors such as age, immune response, and bacterial dissemination in determining the severity of the disease. For more information, readers can refer to the article "Malignant whooping cough in a palliative patient" published in Kliniceskij razbor v obsej medicine. [Extracted from the article]

A report from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic discusses the immune-subversive activities of the pertussis and adenylate cyclase toxins produced by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which causes whooping cough. The adenylate cyclase toxin disrupts host defense mechanisms by hijacking cellular signaling pathways and inhibiting the differentiation of inflammatory monocytes into bactericidal macrophages. This toxin also downregulates the expression of receptors involved in iron acquisition, allowing the bacterium to evade host immune responses and proliferate in the airway mucosa. The research suggests a new mechanism by which B. pertussis evades host phagocytes. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers from West Virginia University have conducted a study on Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium responsible for whooping cough. The study focused on the use of the mature C-terminal domain of filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) as a novel vaccine antigen. The researchers found that the FHA antigen, when conjugated to virus-like particles, was more immunogenic and provided improved protection against B. pertussis infection in mice. These findings support the use of this vaccine platform for the development of vaccines against B. pertussis and other pathogens. The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Infection and Immunity. [Extracted from the article]

The article outlines recent research from the French Public Health Agency on Bordetella pertussis, revealing a resurgence of the disease in France in 2024. Topics include the increase in pertussis cases and the identification of a macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis isolate, the prevalence of specific bacterial proteins such as pertactin and FIM2, and the potential impact of this resurgence on vaccine and treatment strategies.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group highlights the ongoing global health issue of whooping cough, particularly in infants who are too young to receive vaccination. The researchers emphasize the importance of effective vaccination and high vaccination coverage to limit the spread of the disease. They also discuss the challenges in diagnosing pertussis in early infancy, as it can be easily mistaken for other respiratory illnesses. The study suggests that peripheral blood smear and real-time polymerase chain reaction are effective and rapid diagnostic tools for pertussis. The researchers present a case report of a 2-month-old infant with symptoms of pertussis, where a peripheral blood smear and polymerase chain reaction confirmed the diagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at Bari Aldo Moro University in Southern Italy investigated the acceptance of a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination campaign among healthcare workers (HCWs) in a large hospital. The study found that prior to the intervention, only 31.34% of the target HCWs had been vaccinated. However, after an active call intervention, vaccine coverage increased to 70.00%. The researchers concluded that the solicitation was effective, suggesting that communication with a trained specialist may have improved the subjects' perception of vaccination and individual risk of contagion and transmission to others. They also suggested that a synergistic approach combining active calls with a vaccination mandate may be more effective. [Extracted from the article]

New research from West Virginia University has found that an mRNA DTP vaccine can protect against pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in rats. The study showed that the mRNA vaccine was immunogenic and induced antigen-specific antibodies comparable to commercially available vaccines. Rats that received the mRNA-DTP vaccine were well protected against coughing and had reduced bacterial burden when challenged with aerosolized B. pertussis. These findings suggest that an mRNA-DTP vaccine could be effective in protecting against pertussis in humans. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides information about a clinical trial conducted by Minervax ApS. The trial, NCT06494475, aims to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a Group B Streptococcus vaccine (GBS-NN/NN2) in combination with a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. The trial will involve female participants aged 18 to 49 years and will assess the immune response and occurrence of adverse events. The trial is not yet recruiting participants and is expected to be completed by June 21, 2025. The document also includes eligibility criteria and administrative information about the trial. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the evolutionary parallelisms between Bordetella parapertussis (Bpp) and Bordetella pertussis (Bp), two pathogens that contribute to whooping cough. The study examines the temporal evolution of Bpp sublineages by sequencing 242 Bpp isolates collected between 1937 and 2019. The researchers found that pertactin deficiency in Bpp was driven by 18 disruptive mutations, including one observed in 73.8% of post-2007 isolates. The study suggests that Bpp has adapted to humans through modulation of the bvgAS regulon and rapid adaptation through the loss of pertactin expression, which coincides with acellular vaccination against whooping cough. [Extracted from the article]

A new report from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine discusses the establishment of an emergency management and epidemiological surveillance system in hospitals to combat pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The researchers highlight the global public health concern posed by the resurgence of pertussis and emphasize the need for a unified surveillance program and effective control strategies. They also suggest considering the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment and prevention of the disease. The research concludes by proposing a model for an emergency management procedure in hospitals to better prepare for future epidemics. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea, focused on the extraction of the outer membrane protein Pertactin (PRN) from Bordetella pertussis, a Gram-negative bacteria responsible for whooping cough. The study aimed to develop a large-scale urea-based process for PRN extraction, which is a crucial component of the acellular pertussis vaccine. The researchers found that freezing and thawing the cell pellet at specific temperatures significantly increased PRN yield, and a 5 M urea treatment for 2 hours was determined to be the optimal condition. The developed extraction process resulted in high-quality PRN with a purity of over 95% at a yield of 33.2%. The findings of this study may have implications for the production of other membrane proteins. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas focused on the introduction of new recombinant protein antigens to existing pediatric combination vaccines, specifically in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study examined the compatibility of three recombinant non-replicating rotavirus vaccine (NRRV) antigens with a mock multidose formulation of a pediatric pentavalent vaccine. The researchers found that simple mixing led to the desorption of the NRRV antigens and increased degradation during storage, which was caused by specific antigens, aluminum-salt adjuvants, and a preservative. The study provides insights for future formulation development of combination vaccines with new vaccine candidates. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers from Debre Markos University in Ethiopia conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the attack rate, case fatality rate, and predictors of pertussis outbreaks in Ethiopia. They analyzed seven outbreak investigations with a total of 2,824 cases and 18 deaths. The study found that the pooled attack rate was 10.78 per 1,000 population, and the case fatality rate was 0.8%. Being unvaccinated and having contact history were identified as predictors of contracting pertussis. The researchers recommend strengthening routine vaccination and contact tracing efforts to prevent future outbreaks. [Extracted from the article]

A new report from researchers at the University of Brasilia provides insights into a whooping cough outbreak in the Brazilian Midwest region. The outbreak occurred despite high vaccination coverage, and the researchers found that the circulating strains of Bordetella pertussis, the bacteria that causes whooping cough, were different from the strain used in the vaccine. The most prevalent genotype associated with the outbreak was fim3-24/ptxP-3. These findings could help inform future vaccination programs to prevent similar outbreaks in Brazil. [Extracted from the article]

A new study conducted by researchers at West Virginia University has found that multivalent mRNA-DTP vaccines are immunogenic and provide protection against Bordetella pertussis infection in mice. The study utilized immunization and challenge models to evaluate the mRNA platform with multivalent vaccine formulations targeting B. pertussis antigens, as well as diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. The mRNA DTP vaccines induced antigen-specific antibodies and Th1 T cell responses, and provided protection equal to that of human doses of DTaP or whole cell pertussis vaccines. These findings suggest that the mRNA platform has potential for developing multivalent bacterial pathogen vaccines. [Extracted from the article]

A patent application has been submitted by researchers from nference Inc. for a method of identifying patient populations vulnerable to viral infection and inducing heterologous immunity. The method involves analyzing patient-specific data to assess the cross-protective effects of existing vaccines against SARS-COV-2 infection. By determining demographic covariates and propensity scores, the researchers aim to reduce the risk of acquiring or fully presenting a disease case by SARS-COV-2 infection. The method also involves administering vaccines that have not been given to the subject within the past year. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating the potential protective effects of existing vaccines against COVID-19 infection. [Extracted from the article]

ModernaTX Inc. has filed a patent application for a ribonucleic acid (RNA) vaccine that targets whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. The vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct the body to produce specific proteins that can fight these diseases. The vaccine contains multiple mRNA polynucleotides that encode various antigenic polypeptides for Bordetella pertussis. It has the potential to treat and prevent infections caused by different strains and genotypes of these diseases. The patent application includes claims for different compositions of the vaccine, as well as specific amino acid and nucleotide sequences for the antigenic polypeptides. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by investigators from EpiConcept in Paris, France, examined the effectiveness of pertussis vaccines in infants. The study utilized data from the Pertussis in Infants European Network (PERTINENT), a surveillance system implemented in 35 hospitals across six EU/EEA countries. The researchers found that the adjusted effectiveness of at least one dose of the vaccine was 59%, with a lower effectiveness of 48% for the first dose and a higher effectiveness of 76% for the second dose. The study suggests that larger sample sizes would provide more precise estimates for the effectiveness of each dose. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Maryland examined the safety and immunogenicity of a single dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) compared to the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td) in pregnant women in Mali. The study found that Tdap administered to pregnant women in Mali was safe and well-tolerated, and infants born to mothers who received Tdap had high levels of pertussis toxin (PT) and protective anti-tetanus toxin (TT) antibodies. However, the study also noted that the immune responses to primary pertussis vaccination in infants born to mothers who received Tdap were blunted, indicating a need for further research. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers at Nanchang University aimed to examine the global impact of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, between 1990 and 2019. The study found that overall, there has been a decline in the incidence rate, disability-adjusted life years rate, and death rate of pertussis worldwide. However, certain regions, such as southern sub-Saharan Africa, high-income North America, Western Europe, and Australasia, have experienced an increase in the disease burden. The study highlights the need for urgent measures to alleviate the pertussis burden in these areas. [Extracted from the article]

A study conducted by researchers at Mississippi State University provides new insights into experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model used to study multiple sclerosis (MS). The researchers aimed to confirm that appropriate signaling molecules for the disease were being induced in the brain tissue of mice with EAE. RNA-Seq analysis revealed strong activation of the MS signaling pathway, as well as activation of Th1, Th2, and Th17 signaling pathways. The study suggests that this model of EAE closely mimics the onset of human MS and shares similarities with active and inactive lesions in MS patients. [Extracted from the article]

A patent application has been submitted for the approval of "Self-Assembling Nanostructure Vaccines." The inventors propose nanostructure-based vaccines as a new approach to increase the potency and breadth of the immune response. These vaccines utilize nanostructures composed of polypeptides and antigens arranged in symmetrically ordered arrays. The nanostructures can be used to generate immunity to infectious agents and elicit a neutralizing antibody response. Methods of making the nanostructures through in vitro assembly or co-expression in recombinant expression systems are also described. This patent application describes a method for creating nanostructures that can be used as vaccines to generate immunity against various infectious agents. The nanostructures consist of polypeptides arranged in a specific pattern and attached to antigens. The antigens can be proteins or fragments of proteins from different infectious agents such as HIV, influenza, Ebola, and malaria. The method involves expressing the polypeptides and antigens in a recombinant expression system, purifying them, and then mixing them to generate the nanostructure. The resulting vaccine can elicit a broadly-neutralizing immune response. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Novi Sad in Serbia examined the epidemiological characteristics of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The study analyzed data from 1948 to 2023 and found that the reported incidence of pertussis declined after the introduction of the DTwP vaccine in 1960. However, since 2012, there has been an increase in pertussis cases, particularly among school-aged children. The researchers recommend introducing additional booster doses of the aP vaccine for individuals aged 14 years and implementing maternal immunization strategies. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic have conducted a study on Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium responsible for whooping cough. The research found that B. pertussis cells can survive and adapt within macrophages, a type of immune cell. The study suggests that the avirulent phase, where the bacterium becomes less virulent, is an authentic phenotype of internalized B. pertussis cells. The findings also indicate that the bacterium undergoes a complex process of metabolic adjustment, cell wall reinforcement, and repair of damaged macromolecules in response to the intramacrophage environment. [Extracted from the article]